There is nothing more exciting than bringing home a cute bundle of happiness. Puppies are full of energy and fun and are extremely receptive to learning everything about their new environment and forming lifelong habits. However, habits come in two forms – good and bad, and what may seem like cute and funny behaviour in a small, furry puppy, may not be so amusing in a strong and fully grown dog. Habits are easily made, yet hard to break, so you really need to start as you mean to go on to have a polite and well-mannered dog that will be a pleasure to look after during their long and happy life with you.
When to start training a puppy is from the moment you bring them home, which is usually around 8 weeks old. Between 8 and 16 weeks of age puppies are the most receptive to learning and forming habits and teaching them basic commands like “sit” and “come”, and vital socialisation skills that are acceptable to other family members is crucial to a happy future together. Using positive reinforcement methods like giving treats and praise to encourage good behaviour and providing them with a safe and secure “quiet” place for time out when they may get over-excited will help your puppy develop into an adorable canine companion.
Is Puppy School Really Worth It?
Puppy school is as important to your puppy as nursery school is to your child. Here they learn to mix with other puppies of similar ages and learn social skills and what behaviours are acceptable outside of their immediate family. Having a well-socialised dog means you never have to worry about taking them anywhere, or what their reaction will be upon meeting a stranger or another dog on your trips together.
At Vets of Geelong we offer different types of puppy training classes to suit different age groups:
- Puppy Classes – Suitable for puppies aged 8 to 12 weeks, focusing on early socialisation, confidence building, and basic commands.
- Pulley Classes – Suitable for junior pups aged 12 to 20 weeks of age. Focusing on early socialisation, confidence building, and basic commands.
- Pups and Bubs Classes – These classes are designed for expecting parents. We explore the specific issues we need to consider when bringing a new baby into the home and begin practical management solutions for your dog over the two sessions.
- One-on-One Behaviour Training – Learn about your dog, unpack the issues, strategies and receive work plans.
- Adolescent Classes – Suitable for puppies/dogs aged 5 to 12 months of age this course is designed to help you teach your dog basic manners.
- Canine Academy – individual skill classes designed to focus on a particular skill set that you and your dog may need tweaking.
Puppy training classes usually run from 8 weeks of age, so it is worth finding out before you get your puppy what the facility’s requirements are for vaccines, the spaces available, and what the status of your puppy’s vaccines will be when you take him or her home. Most puppies will have had their first vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age before you get them, with two further boosters required around 12 and 16 weeks of age. At Vets of Geelong we require all puppies to be well and have received their first vaccination to attend our classes. Taking a puppy to puppy classes before they have completed their vaccination schedule is not considered a risk as all the puppies will be of similar ages, healthy and partially vaccinated. Your dog will be socialising with other healthy puppies in a controlled environment to help mitigate the risk, while taking the opportunity to start your puppy in the right track during this vital learning time. We don’t recommend puppies to go to heavy dog traffic areas such as parks until 1-2 weeks after their final vaccines.
When Should I Take My Puppy to The Vet?
It is a good idea to take your puppy to the vet as soon as you can. The best age to train a dog is from 8 weeks of age, so getting them used to a trip to the vet while it is still considered a new and fun activity by your puppy, sets them up for a great future (and makes life easier for you vet if your puppy doesn’t mind being examined!). Knowing that a visit to the vet is not something to be scared of will not only confirm that you have a wonderful and healthy new pet but will be the start of a great relationship between your pet and your vet!
The vet can also make sure your puppy has received the necessary vaccinations so far and that they are fit and ready to attend puppy school. The training you, your family and your puppy receive at puppy classes helps to create a positive environment for learning new skills and socialisation techniques, and any problems you encounter can be worked upon as they develop. Take the skills you learn home and apply them in everyday situations, and you will have a puppy to be proud of!
Starting training early and continuing to reinforce positive behaviours ensures that your dog remains a well-behaved, happy companion throughout their life.
At Vets of Geelong, we provide expert training and care to set your puppy up for success. Book a consultation today to get started on their training journey!
